While I truly believe that strict fundamentals should be taught
at all youth baseball levels, I also truly believe that as players
reach the 12- to 14-year-old level, they should be picking up or
learning the little things.
While I truly believe that strict fundamentals should be taught at all youth baseball levels, I also truly believe that as players reach the 12- to 14-year-old level, they should be picking up or learning the little things. I’ve watched numerous games, including travel baseball competitive teams, but I’m just not seeing players practice the fundamentals.
Some of these little things can be taught, some are instinctive and some are reactionary. Whatever the reasons are I’m not seeing it happen. Not applying these little things won’t diminish a player’s value or athletic talent, but the lack of fundamentals will be magnified in the course of a game.
Sitting back and evaluating a game, I’m not seeing infielders taking a set step before every pitch, getting their feet correctly positioned to throw or charging a slowly hit groundball and making a good throw to first base, nor do I see an infielder turn around and let the outfielders know how many outs there are.
I’m not seeing catchers block pitches in the dirt, correctly set their feet in throwing to second or correctly receive the ball with their glove turned the right way. In addition, their throwing mechanics are slow, thus enabling runners to take advantage of their lack of skill in that area.
I’m not seeing outfielders back up bases, back up other outfielders, get in the proper position to catch a fly ball or throw to the right base. It seems that most of them are not proactive and aren’t telling themselves what to do with the ball if it’s hit to them or what to do if it’s not.
As I watch pitchers I’m not seeing all of them attempt pickoffs at first correctly with the right footwork, back up bases on balls hit to the outfield, know where to throw on bunt plays or double plays, or communicate with infielders on who’s taking the throw on a certain play.
Running the bases is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes mistakes are made. I’m not seeing players run with their heads up, look to base coaches before rounding a base or after they round a base. They don’t know when to tag up or play a ball halfway or how to take a lead off the base.
Defensive plays can set the tone for squelching a rally and getting a key out in a crucial situation, but I’m not seeing teams playing correct situation baseball. They’re not positioned properly for a cutoff situation, a double steal, a sacrifice bunt play or a ball that goes by the outfielder.
Hitting is one of the most difficult things in all of sports to do. Even the best players in professional baseball fail seven out of ten times. However, I’m not seeing players at the youth level approach the ball correctly, see the ball to hit it, know how to hit an off speed pitch, or have an understanding of the strike zone.
It obviously takes time and game experience before you learn or acquire a lot of these little things. The more you play, the more you watch and the more you apply what you’ve learned, the quicker the little things fall into place.
For instance, I asked a pitcher one time why he gave up three hits to the same hitter. He remarked that he didn’t know it was the same guy. I then asked him how he could recognize if it was the same hitter or not. He didn’t know. Well, how about looking at his number! If a hitter blasts a bomb off me I’d kind of like to know when he’s coming up in the lineup again.
When players reach the high school level and can use the little things to their advantage, they become a valuable commodity to the coach and the program. In some cases it means playing or sitting on the bench or not making the team at all. Your athletic talent can get you to any level, but your understanding and expertise of the little things will make you valuable wherever you go.
